Popular film producer and director Socrate Safo believes differently from the general consensus that says creatives in government roles are ceremonial and have no real influence on the industry.
Socrate, who holds a political position at the National Commission on Culture (NCC) as Director for Creative Arts, contends that the issue has actually been a lack of communication between industry actors and their accomplishments.
Recently, Socrate Safo, a panelist for the Graphic Showbiz X (Twitter) Dialogue series, observed that the correct narratives had not been communicated.
“It’s unfortunate people think that having creatives in political positions is not relevant since they don’t make any impact but that is not true and they are not failures.
“I have said time without number that things are happening but keeping industry players updated has become a challenge, thereby creating the impression creatives in political positions are failures.
“There are so many things happening behind the scenes such as the National Theatre splitting costs with creatives to enable them to successfully host their events. This lessens the burden of production costs.
“A few years ago, Ghanaian comedians were condemned for not being talented but today they are all over the place because an industry person in government took the initiative to support them.
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“Today, the story is different and they are making an impact and filing auditoriums like the National Theatre because a creative holding government position who understands the system worked to make it happen,” he stated.
In the Graphic Showbiz X Dialogue Series, which focused on the question, “Have creative players in political positions helped the industry?” other panelists included Artiste Manager Nana Poku Ashis, Media Personality and former FIPAG member Ola Michael, and President of the Foundation of Concerned Arts Professionals (FOCAP), Kojo Preko Dankwa.
All of these individuals offered differing perspectives on the matter. In his submission, Kojo Preko Dankwa added to the argument that political positions held by creatives—particularly those held by the Ministry of Arts, Tourism and Culture—are not a solution to the industry’s enduring problems because they have little to no influence.
These assertions were echoed by Nana Poku Ashis and Ola Michael, who had previously stated that most creatives only occupy “ceremonial” positions.
But Socrate Safo disapproved of them, saying that communication had been more difficult than the work of political appointments.
“If the person in there is doing things but is quiet about them, that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. There are two sides to this but the issue here is lack of communication. So it is not that they are failures,” he added.
